'The Winds of Winter' Update: Struggling George R.R. Martin May Not Release TWOW This Year Because of This

At New York Comic Con 2025, George R R Martin delivered a blunt reality check: The Winds of Winter might not arrive this year.

Behind the delay lie deep creative struggles, an aversion to deadlines, and a plate overflowing with other projects. For fans awaiting the sixth book of A Song of Ice and Fire, the assurance that it remains a priority is cold comfort—because the path to completion looks steeper than ever.

Martin acknowledged that his creative struggles and multiple commitments continue to slow his progress on the novel, more than a decade after the last instalment.

Martin Admits Ongoing Deadline Struggles

In a candid exchange during the convention, Martin said he has 'always had trouble with deadlines' and that he does not 'feel happy breaching contracts or missing a deadline.'

He described the situation as both 'frustrating" and "embarrassing,' admitting he feels guilty about the repeated delays, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.

He also responded to long-time readers who question why he continues to take on new creative projects instead of finishing The Winds of Winter.

Martin said many of those endeavours--including work on House of the Dragon and other spin-offs--were conceived years ago and should not be seen as distractions.

Why 2025 Faces Serious Headwinds

Enormous Scope & Structural Complexity

Martin has previously estimated that The Winds of Winter consists of 1,100–1,200 pages written, with 400–500 pages still to be written.
The task of weaving dozens of character arcs and resolving multiple cliffhangers adds narrative weight that slows forward momentum.

Intermittent Progress & Creative Diversions

Martin admitted that he progresses in spurts: sometimes productive, often pulled away by other obligations.
His involvement in shows and adaptations of his ancillary works has become a recurring justification—for which he's often criticized by fans.

Delay Fatigue & Fan Expectations

It's been over 13 years since A Dance with Dragons was published (2011). Every passing year amplifies pressure and scepticism that Martin will ever deliver.
Observers note that the TV series Game of Thrones wrapped without its final books as source material—forcing adaptations to diverge on their own.

Martin did not announce any new completion date at Comic Con but assured audiences that he remains committed to finishing the series despite the difficulties, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Years of Missed Targets

A look back at Martin's own statements reveals how far the project has slipped. In 2017, he told fans he hoped to publish the book that same year, but later retracted the prediction.

By late 2022, Martin claimed The Winds of Winter was about three-quarters finished. However, in November 2023, he conceded that progress had slowed and that he was 'still struggling with it.'

Industry observers, including Collider, say that weaving together dozens of character arcs and resolving complex cliff-hangers could be fuelling Martin's hesitation.

They note that his slower output ultimately forced HBO's Game of Thrones to conclude without his final books as source material.

Fans' Patience Wearing Thin

Even with the setbacks, Martin insists he has not abandoned The Winds of Winter.

He told Entertainment Weekly that he considers all his projects, including Winds, as 'children' he loves equally.

Still, many fans doubt that 2025 will see the long-promised release. GamesRadar+ paraphrased one reader's reaction: when delays are mentioned, 'you don't say.'

Martin has promised that when the manuscript is truly finished, fans will hear it directly from him--in what he described as a major announcement rather than small leaks.